Log raft



Jan. 20, 1931. w A, D|x0N 1,789,519

LOG RAFT Filed March 29. 1928 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented J'an.'20r,v

WILLIAM A. Dixon-oramai rm, or TAM, OREGONv .nos Barr Y Thisv invention 'i relates generally' to the Cil transportation of logs by means offrafts, with special reference to rafts which are adapted kto use in shallowwatersaswell-asin deeper waters or in the oceanfit'self. i

i The main object of this invention' is tofu construct a form of log raft which will make it possible to build and to float theraft in relatively shallow waters, and at `the .same

time .make same seagoing, without the nec'esf sity of expending an undesirable amount of laborin its construction or entailing the loss of a large percentage ofthe logs, as is ordinarily'the case when they are drilled at each end` for the purpose of fastening them vto-VH gether by means of cables.

These objects will become from the specificationk following as illustrated in the 4accompanying drawings, innvvhich:

` Figure 1 is a perspective view of the raft showing same being towed byapower vessel.

Figure i2 is a plan of a completedraftv. Figure 8 is a plan of the lower tier of logs Zshowing the single crosslog at the stern of the raft. Figure4isan enlarged section taken along the .line 4-4 in Figure 2 showing the lower tier of logs and cable. Figure 5 is a section taken alongthe line 5*-5 in Figure 2 showing the raft after the second tier of logs is piled thereon. ,Figure 6 is -a section taken along the line 6-6inFigure 2.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken along the line 7-7 in Figure 5 showing the cross log at the stern `of theraft and itsfastening to the lower tier of logs.V l Y Slmllar numbers of reference refer to simi-y lar parts throughoutY the several views. Referring in detail to the drawing, the raft is constructed as follows: Firstv there ,are

Y which is wound up and downaround the logsv oated into position a number Vof long outer logs 10, preferably overf-lappingKas shown), and between which are `placedtheshorte1-' logs llwhich are also over-lapped as much as possible. Itis desirable to use ,logsof a fairly uniform size for the lower'tier. A l

The logs 1() and-11 are now secured to- ,l

gether at intervals by means of a cable 12 in ligure eight fashionV (as shown in Figure 4) and the lashings arefpulled up as tight.

more apparentv Y Next across' log 14 isplacedacrossltheisteriij .'V n of therraft vand'is made 'fast thereto, by means of the cable 15 (as shown) The log i141 is V OREGONQASSIGNOR 'roiLI1\Tc:oi:.1'\I,COUNTY:inerentecome` i f s possible, Ifaifter fas'tby Acable' '15 'isthenffsecured by'rmeansjfof the "l linthelowertier.-

u The logs 518 are now held-down bythe crossl logs 19 and-20 and, 'positioned approximately Vunderside of the raftto afflat bottom, which thef cables 21 which pass overthe' cross logs j `other words, binding the cargo logs to thev (l x v raft logs,Y and at the same time 'holding the@ f yof 'course is desirable vs r'henfrrafting logsin 1 shallow z waters.l

The hauling lines. ,22arel y.

mde'fastf to the'log 14 Vand lthen'giv'en aturn.- *i

.around Athe cross logs 19' an'dlV 20 Y'and then 'attachedto'the bridle 23, to which is secured the tow line 241of the'power boat 25. f

It can 'be'seen that iby'thisconstruction igs 1o and 11m-the; www hier' i101; only SUPP Vport-the'c'argolog's 18 but areA more rigidly f held Vir'i'theirrelati'on toeach otherby the,

In other words'after thefS -cargo logs '18. Y cable 12 'is vwrapped up` and down through the logs 10 and vrlljand drawn astightly as possible vandsecured; "by 'the "clannpsv 13 k"there "Inayjstilldbe considerable slack in the cable 'owing tothe stiffness .of vthe, cable itself.

This is taken care ofbythe cargo logs'them selveswhich tend-tospread the 'lowerf'logs apart yso that as the cargol'ogs "18 areadded ltotheraftit is gradually transforinedinto a even. rough s eatravel.l f

j Itmust be borne inmind that thisfraft is especially designed for` raftinglarge: logs i such 'as'.arecominonly found in the western ioo well knit structure capablelof'withstanding provided withnotche's 1 6 onltsupperslde *l foetsie e part of the United States where logs ranging from three to four feet in diameter are an average rather than anexception. This type lof raft would probably not be advisable with the smaller logs found in the eastern and southern @sections fl the country.I

It has been the common practice in rafting these large logs in shallow waters to' bore'a three inich; hole throughboth ends of the logs about two 'feet from the end,threading steel cables through these holes by means of his which the logs are secured together. While this method is fairly safe, it is extremelyex pensive as fai" as labor` is' concerned, and

wasteful as faras timbervis concerned, since Y it' can rea'dilybe appreciated thattwo'feet tudinally disposed logs having interlacedV cable means for securing same together laterally, a cross log mounted on top of the stern end only of the raft' formed b said longitudinally disposedlogs and las ed thereto in a manner'to hold the stern ofsaid raft to a flat bottom, cargo logs placed on top of and ,between said lower logs,binding crossings placed on top ofsaidlcargo logs having' mea-ns v for lashing same to the under sideof said lower logs, and hauling lines secured to said stern cross log then passing around each of said binding logs and fastening to the bridle ofaftowing boat. Y x y 2. A lograft consisting of a'pluralityof u 3. A method of building log rafts consisting of first placing a tier of logs in the water,

- then lashing said logs together laterally, then mounting a cargo abutting log across the top of the stern end of said logs, then placing a tr'of cargo logs above and between said first mentioned logs 'with their rearmo'st ends said sterny logs, then binding said cargo logs against said firstv mentioned logs byzmeans off a plurality of cross logs placed on top of said cargo logs and lashing around bath tiers of logs, and then joining all of said logs longitudinally by means of tow linessecur'ed tey said stern and cross logs.

, WILLIAM A. DIXON.

. forms and modifications thereof asfll fairly -f longitudinallydisposed'logs,a cargo abutting 'l cross log mounted at the stern end only of said first mentioned logs transversely there-V with and. projecting over the sides thereof,

cargo abutting log having notches formed in the top sides of its projecting vends, a cable passing around the under' side of said longicured thereto in. a manner to hold said longitudinal logs in ahorizontal plane, a plurality of transverse cables passed around said longitudinal logs for securing same together laterall/(jf, cargo'logs above and betwen saidlongitu inally disposed logs,-binding cross logs v above said cargoflogs urging saidlowermost logs apart, cables for lashing said binding logs upon.V said cargo logs and passing under thelowermost logs, 'and hauling lines for securing said raft longitudinally Vand towing same consistin of a pair of lines made fast to opposite en s of said sternv crosslo then turned' around said bindingk logs van then made fast to a towing bridle.

tudinal logs and said notched ends and se- 

